Celtic Slip To Second After Draw With The 'Well

Celtic 0 Motherwell 0

Rangers went one-point clear at the top of the Premier League after Celtic failed to score in their home draw against Motherwell on Saturday.

Motherwell, who also forced a draw from Celtic's Old Firm rivals, certainly seemed to lack the fear that some of the Scottish league teams show when coming to Glasgow.

Despite a bright start from Celtic, and some early threats on the visitors goal - notably when Georgio Samaras volleyed a McGinn cross wide of the goal - Motherwell were also threatening, with Chris Humphrey and Yassim Moutaouakil teaming up well on the right.

Celtic 'keeper Artur Boruc was forced into action in the 22nd minute when Humphrey fired the ball towards goal. It was initially heading wide of the post but Jutkiewicz jumped in and diverted it goalward with his foot.

At the other end, the 'Well's goalkeeper John Ruddy was also on form, denying Scott McDonald and a couple of efforts (one good, one not so much) from McGinn.

Celtic started the second half with a raised level of determination and effort, but Ruddy seemed up to the task and made good saves from McGinn (again) and Caldwell, who almost headed the ball in from a corner.

In injury time, Celtic came close to securing the winner, and the three points, but both McDonald and McGeady wasted good chances from headers in the six-yard box.

After the match, manager Tony Mowbray told reporters that: "There's an overriding sense of frustration at the lack of quality in the final third. The final pass wasn't good enough.

"But I don't want to be too harsh since it's the first time we haven't scored in the league and it wasn't through lack of trying. We had a lot of shots on goal.

"At the end we were peppering their goal but it just wouldn't go in. We huffed and puffed and ultimately weren't good enough."

Hibs striker Anthony Stokes has claimed that players would be much less interested in moving to Scotland if the Old Firm left the SPL for England or a European League:

"They are the teams that everybody strives to beat and play against.

"I think that's a massive ambition for anybody who comes up to Scotland.

"I don't think it would be good for Scottish football. That's the main reason they should not go.

"You have to look at the big picture outside of Hibs. It might be good for us in the long run, and for Hearts, but I think it would take a lot of the atmosphere out of Scottish football."

He was supported in his view by manager John Hughes and Hearts' boss Csaba Laszlo, who said, "To run away from the problem is not the best solution."

Former bhoy Henrik Larsson has expressed his interest in returning to Parkhead in a coaching role. The Swedish striker who spent seven-years with Celtic, scoring 242 goals during that time, is likely to retire from club and international football at the end of this season and is expected to land a job in Scotland.